Receptacle stopper



yAug, 28, 1923. 1,466,13

H. .1` BRAGDON l RECEPTACLE STOPPER Fild Aug. 17 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ug. 3, i923.

H. J. BRAGDQN RECEPTACLE STOPPER 192i 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17,

bottle neck; i

Patented Aug. 28, 1923.

' narran stares PATE',

HERBERT fr. BnAGnoN, or Auron, ILL-mors, Assrcfnon'vfro THE CHICAGO' s'roPrER COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLrNors, A conroae'rron OEIILLINOIS. t

RECEPTACLE STOPPEB/.f

Application filed August 17, 1.921'. serial no. 493,0ei. l

To all whiomiz' may conce/m Be it known that 1Hnnnnn'r J. BRAGDON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Alton, county of Madison, and State of illinois, have invented a. certain new and usefulimprovement in Receptacle Stoppers, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification. i

My invention relate'sto an improved stopper for a bottle or other receptacle, the

stopper being constructed of relatively inexpensive material; being Vadapted when forced, or iitted;into the neck of a bottle, automatically to hold itself influid-tight engagement with the bottle neck; but nevertheless being capable of easy removal following a simple and natural operation which releases the pressure of the stopper against the bottle neck. l

As the broad plan and principle ofmyV invention,as well as the details of the herein illustrated embodiment thereof, can best be understood from a description read in connection with .illustrative"drawings,l I shall proceed at once to ak discussion ofthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my stopper as it appears prior to its insertion in the neck vof a bottle;

Figure 2 is an axial Ysectional view of the stopper, this view likewise illustrating the stopper as it appears prior'to insertion in a bottle neck; l

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line of Figure 2; Y

Figure 4 is an Yaxial sectional view of the stopper and a bottle neck in whichy the stopper has been forced or inserted; Figure 5 is 'a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view v'similar to Figure 5, but illustrating the stopper after it has been coiled to relieve its pressure against the Figure 7 is an elevational view illustrating a number of the elements of the stopper as they appear at an intermediate step Vin the manufacture of the stopper;

Figure .8 is a bottom plan view of the partsshown inFigure 7;

Figure 9 is an isolated elevation of one of two similar nonmetallic strips used in the construction of the stopper;

. both y,inclusive -f Figure 14. is a top plan view of, the stopiper shown in Figures 12 and 13; and

Figurel is anelevatio'nal view ofa tool or kevthat may be' employedtol facilitate removal from a receptacle of a stopper'of the kind illustrated pini Figuresr12 -to 14,

`Figures 7 to 11; both-inclusive, ar'edrawn as closely-as 'possible to ithefexact size of` Va commercially developed embodiment o-f my inventien.Fig1.-res 1 to 6, both inclusive, have been drawn on alarger scale.

, .The stopper illustrated Y in YFigures 1 to 11, inclusive comprises head or discA, a staple' B, a pair of Anon-metallic strips ,CCafmetallic strip Da strip of rela-` tively thin paper,y a relatively stiff but thin A disc F, an Yimpervious Ycup' G'andfa relatively. thin paper disfcH. p. y

, The disc A is preferably formed of thick cardboardfcapable vof being pierced Vby the points .of staple B, but may beyconstructed of anysuitable material,l such asA wood, fibre,

ine-tal, etc. St-aple B is preferably. formed of Wire and is conformed to provide the loop 16, shoulders 17.-17 yand-the spaced apart and pointed extremities 18,-18 (see Figure 11)., Each ofthe stripsCC is formedof a material, such as .comparatively y heavy mauila paper, which-isnfairly stiff, but` has some inherent resiliencyfandflexibility. One. of the edges ,of each strip CG is notched intermediate vthe strip ends,VV as Yindicated atl 1`9- 19. Strip D isformed of anyV relatively thin sheetmetal whichjhas an'inherent tendency rto unwind when coiled. StriprD is of substantially` the same `width but shorter than strips CC@ A notch 2O is formed in one'edge lof strip Dat a point intermediate its ends.. Strip E is conveniently of substantially the same width and'lengthv as strips @Cia-nd is formed of some .comparatively cheap materialsueh as thin manila paper. Strip E isnotched at21.A Disc F is prefer-` ably formed'ofV some materialthat is im usually, but not necessarily, forms the outer layer. Disc H is formed, of paper. It gives d isc A 'al iini'shed appearance and serves to receive any adverti'sing or other4 printed matter` that may be desired.

In constructing the stoppen the strips CG are placed side by'side With the strip D betweenl them, the notches 194419 and 2O being Brought into'registry. Strip E is noW, or

, has been previously, adhesively applied to f The several strips @@D 4and are nowV slipped through loop 16 of staple- B,A thef one of the strips'v C and projects a substantial distance beyond one end thereof, notch 2'1 registering ivithvnotchesV 15)#19 and 20.

lower'portion or the loop' being` caused to engage in the', several aligned notches. The cardboard disc A1 is now 'forced doiv'n upon thejpointed endslB-el of B and the pointed ends are clinched as illustrated in Figures 2 andl 4.

lVh'en disc A; is 'ormed of heavyand comparativelylsoft cardboard,

Vthe clinched endsfor the staple and the shiilders 174-17 inay `be caused to lie flush vv'ith, 'or' eren Within, the upper and lower surfaces of disc V,The several strips are noiy Wound er coiled around loopV 16'in the manner inost Clearly Yillustrated in Figuresv 3,,5 and Ati. The outermost convolution of the edil ff strips consists of the thin Vpaper E, thehstri pE being` adhesively secured vto" itself tti linri'it the vcoil of strips to a predetermined vdiameter or circumference. The coiled strips are now preferably lplaced ina Shapingv die which need hotdil'er materially in shape rrom 'the neck or the receptacle` `4y'ifith iiihieh the' finished Ystopper is subsediie'ntly Lto-.be used. die of this kind Will gliie the coil or' strips such taper as may be required for` ordinary receptacles. Disc F isnoiv'placedagainst the A.bottom of the shaped 'edil of strips and theY impervious cup Gr is positioned around the coil or strips as shoivii'. The cup is p'refers-bly adhesively securedI to the outermost convoliiti on or the coil'of strips,` but this is by no ineans absolutely necessary; rllhe cup Vis not secured to dis'c A1 but the upper'rnargin of thecup lies snugly in lcont-act `ivith such disc.v VThe clinched extremities of staple B are 'now criiieealed adhesively applying paper disc-Aland the stopper is ready forxuse.

I The 4stopper is preferably insertedY into a b'ttle or .other receptacle of the type indicated atlX by direct pressure applied to discA the pressure being appliedin a line' parallel tothe axis ofV the bottleneck.

l/Jhen so inserted thel body portion of the stopper,that is, that portion or the stopper which consists of the coil of strips and the cup,-is compressedrbytherivali of the re 'ceptacle VVThe nature .oij'this compression that the compressed stopper body Will Withstand veryconsiderable gaseous pressures Within tlie'receptacleand that it is practically impossiblerto `Withdraw a properly inA serted stopperby a direct outvvar'd pull;

` The stopper may be very easilyv removed simply by turning theA disc A; andwith it'the staple' i3', in the direction opposite to that iiivivliich the strips' ivere Voriginallyy coiled around the' Winding loop. This turningoi` disc l. and staple i3 causes the inner conifehtio'ns of the strips to more tightly coiled around lolopltand uponv each other; and relieves.A or greatly reduces, the pressure With which cup G bears against' the iv'all of the receptacle. Vith the pressure of thev stopllwith Ywhich the disc ./Ai Was grasped and turned. It ivill be obvious lthatv `when the iiiner eonvo'liitions or the coiled strips are being-Ymere tightly coiled around loop 16;. in the mani'ier just expla'iiieth the outer corivolutions oli the coiled material and Vthe iin` peryious cup will be held against rotary movement by reason or the rfriction iresultii'ig from the pressureVV With- Which thercu'p is `e5 `per body against the receptacle Arelieved, the stopper may be easily jrei'noved by fthe handV iiio its

held against the' receptacle Wall;A As lsoon as this pressuresutlicieiitly diminishes to pernnt the 'cup and vouter convolutions-or the coil to,V turn.ftlie stopper is readily renvable. Figure i3 illustrates the loop 16 of staple B turned a ieiv ldegrees from the-posi# tion shown in Figure 5. prior to removal, to

ycoil the inner cbnvolutions of the 'coiled'niaterial more tightly around loopl16.V The stopper body' tends to assume its normal size when removed from the receptacle, and hence may beiused repeatedly. y Y

ln Figures 12 to 1-l l have illustrated an effective but extremely siinple'stopper which comprises a single strip l. of heavy manila paperor the like, whichhas its ends c'o'iled inthe saine direction around itsl intermediate portion indicated at v2,2. The eirtr'eniity of the outermost convolution of the coil in iybeA tree or may be tdhesively secured to i self, as preferred. vrlhec'oiled strip i'sjre'ce'iived Within cup of toil, parafiih'ed'or waxed paper orthe like, and an impervious' disc K is preferably interposed'betv'v'een the which will tend more tightly to coil the-innen lower end of the strip and the bottom of the cup. At L is illustrated a paper cap or head which may be adhesively secured to cup J or may simply fit snugly thereon, as preferred. Gap or head L' -is preferably marked with a pair of dots or circles 23-23 which are located above and on opposite sides of the portion 22 of the coiled strip.

The form of stopper shown in Figures 12 to 14 is inserted into a receptacle in the manner previously described, i. e., by direct pressure exerted on the stopper. The stopper is removable by means of a key of the type illustrated in Figure l5. The spaced and pointed legs of the key are thrust through the dots or circles 23 and are forced downwardly into the stopper with the legs of the key lying on opposite sides of the strip portion 22. The stopper is then readily removed by turning the key in a direction n convolutions of the strip. The cap L may, of

course, be provided with any suitable direction indicia, as illustrated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent of the United States is:

l. A container stopper having an axially inext'ensible body comprising a coiled strip of material, the body having a normal form adapting it to be forced into a container' tor effect a fluid tight closure thereof, the strip being adapted thereafter to be coiled more tightly7 a member engaging the strip, and a head secured to the member and closely overlying the body, the head being of substantially greater diameter than the body lso as to project over the wall of a container opening, the head being adapted, on rotative movement, to coil the strip more tightly, whereby the body will be released from a container, and, on removal, will'assume its normal form.

2. A container stopper having an axially inextensible body comprising a coiled strip of material, the body having anormal form adapting` it to be forced; into a container to effect a fluid-tight closure thereof, the strip being adapted thereafter to be coiled more tightly, a member engaging the strip, a head secured to the member and closely overlying and projecting peripherally beyond the body, the head being adapted, on rotative movement, to coil the strip more tightly, whereby the body will be released from a container and, on removal, will assume its normal form, 'and an impervious cup of fiexible material enclosing the inner end and periphery of the body, the upper margin of the cup lying immediately adjacent the under surface of the head. 1

3. A container stopper'having an axially iii/extensible body comprising two strips of material coiled together, one of the strips being resilient material, the body having a normal form adapting it to be forced into a container to effect a fluid-tight closure-*thereof, the stripsybcing adapted thereafter te be coiled more tightly, a member engaging the strips, and ahead secured to the member and closely overlying the body, the head being of substantially greater diameterV than the body so as to'project'over the wall of a container opening, the head being adapted, ony rotative Vmovement, to coil the strips more tightly, whereby the body will be released from a container, and, on removal, will assumeits formal form.`

' 4. container stopper having an axially' inexte'nsible body comprising two strips of material coiled together, one of the strips beingv resilient material, vthe body having a normal form adapting it to be forced into a container tovelfe'ct a fluid-,tight closure thereof, the strips being adapted thereafter to be coiled more tightly, a member engaging thestrips, a head secured to the member and closely overlying'and projecting peripherally beyond the body, the` head being` adapted, on rotative'movement, to coil the strips more tightly, whereby the body will be released fromV a container and, on removal,`will assume its normalV form, and an imperviouscup offlexible` material encloso ing the inner end and lperiphery of the bod-y, the upper margin of the cup lying immediately adjacent the under surface of the head. j Y n A, container stopper having an axially inextensible body cornprisinga 'coiled strip of material, the body having a normal form adapting it to be forced into'a container to effect a fluid-tightclosure thereof, the strip being adapted thereafter to be coiled more` tightly', a winding loop disposed at the axis of the bodyembracing the sides and lower edge of the strip intermediate its, ends, and a head xedlysecured to the upper end of the loop and closely ,overlying and projecting peripherally beyond the body, -the'head being adapted, on rotativel movement, to coil the] strip more tightly, whereby the body will be released from a container and, on removal, will assume its normal form.

6. A container stopper having an axiallyV inextensible body comprising a coiled strip of material, the body having a normal form adapting it to be forced into a container to effect a fluid-tight closure thereof, the strip being adapted thereafter to be coiled more tightly. a winding loop disposed at the axis ofthe bodyv embracing the sides and lower edge of the strip intermediate itsv ends,'the legsiof the loop being formed to provide shoulders extending radially from the axis of the body across the top thereof, and a head seated on the shoulders and secured to the extremities of the legs at the outer edges ofthe shoulders, the head closely overlying and projecting peripherally beyond the body, the head being adapted, on rota- 'e movement, to Coil the strip more Lightly7 reby the body will be releesed from a container and, on removal, will assume its 4nornial fori f 7V. il container stopper having` an axially inextensible body comprising aA coiled strip olfnnierial, the body having a normal form it 'lobe forced into container to efiiect fluidi-tight Closure thereof, the strip beii adapted thereafter to bercoiled more tightly, a yWinding,` loop disposed al; the axis of the body einbraeino the sides and lower edge ol the strip intermediate its ends, the legs ol Lhe loop being vformed to provide shoulders extending radially Yfrom `the axis el the bodyv across the top thereof, a head seated on the shoulders and secured to the extremities ol' the legs atthe outer edges oill Vdie shoulders, the head closely overlying` and in'ojecling peripherally beyond the body, the head being adapted, on rotative movement, lio coil the strip more tightly, whereby the body will be released` from a Container and,V on removal Will ass-unie ils normal forni, and an impervious eup ol llexible material enclosing the inner end and periphery of the body, the upper Inar- VginV of the cup lying immediately adjacent the under surface olf the head.

.1 ,esel 13 8; .Al eon'ainer stopper havingan axially 30 ineleneiible body comprising two strips of nia erialeoiled :tog-ether, oneo the strips being resilientA material, thebody having,` a,

' normal form adapting-'lt to be lorced into a coni nier `to enect llui'd-mht closure 35V fthe legs at lili-e outer edgges of I@he shoulders, 45

the head closelyoverlying and projecting neripherally beyond the body, the head be-` in@` adapted, on vrotative movement, to. coil ihn strips more 'l'jhtly, whereby the body Vwill he released fi y a container and, Yonre-A 50 nioval, will assume ils normal forni. n

ln Witness Whereol, l hereuntosubseribe my name this 10th kday of August, 1921.

l"V'itness-es EDNA K V GUs'rArsoN, Lion M. BERTONGINI. 

